by Matt Lubbers-Moore
There once was a man named Joseph Sabin. He was born in England in 1821 and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He opened a bookstore and wrote a multivolume bibliography entitled Bibliotheca Americana: A Dictionary of Books Relating to America. What his very brief Wikipedia page left out is that while in Philadelphia he borrowed a great deal of money to buy books to stock his store. When the bank eventually came to collect, they found Sabin and all of his books long gone. He was later found to have moved to New York, books and all. I discovered this tale in a book about Philadelphia used booksellers. The only problem is that I cannot find any collaborating evidence. No mention of this story in in his obituary, The Bookman, or anywhere else I have looked. I will however believe it is true until told otherwise.
I love books about books and the people who deal in them. One of my favorite stores in Ann Arbor, MI Motte and Bailey has an incredible selection of books about books which is where I found the book of stories regarding Philadelphia booksellers. My old favorite was in Niles, MI, just north of Notre Dame, which sadly I had thought closed when the building owner raised the rent and booted A. Casperson’s Books out. I only just realized that Casperson’s reopened in a new location and a visit is certainly high on my list of things to do in the spring.
The only books better than nonfiction books about books are bibliomysteries featuring a queer sleuth. At least in my very humble opinion.
Drama King by Joe Cosentino
Out Oct. 1, 2023
It’s summertime at Treemeadow College and the living isn’t easy. Theatre professors and adorable couple Nicky, Noah, and their thespian troupe stage an original musical adaptation of the King Arthur Legends entitled, Knights in Tights. Queens blissfully shout, “King me,” until critics drop like their scathing reviews. Our favorite thespians will need to use their drama skills to catch the killer before their crowns spin—around their throats.
Beholder by Ryan La Sala
Out Oct. 3, 2024, PUSH
Athanasios “Athan” Bakirtzis has made it far in life relying on his charm and good looks, even securing an invitation to a mysterious penthouse soiree for New York City’s artsy elite. But when he sneaks off to the bathroom, he hears a slam, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in. Outside the door, the party descends into chaos. Through hours of howls, laughter, and sobs, Athan stays hidden. When he finally emerges, he discovers a massacre where the corpses appear to have arranged themselves into a disturbingly elegant sculpture—and Athan’s mysterious savior is nowhere to be found. Athan—the only known survivor—is now the primary suspect.
The City of the Living by Nicola Lagioia
Out Oct. 6, 2023, Europa Editions
In March 2016, in a nondescript apartment on the outskirts of Rome, Manuel Foffo and Marco Prato, two “ordinary” young men from good families, brutally murdered twenty-three year old Luca Varani. News of the seemingly inexplicable crime sent shockwaves through Rome and beyond. What motivated such extreme violence? Were the killers evil or in the grip of societal evils? Did they know what they were doing? Based on months of interviews, court documentation, and correspondence with the killers themselves, The City of the Living is a descent into the dark heart of Rome—a city that is unlivable and yet teeming with life, overrun by rats and wild animals, and plagued by corruption, drugs, and violence. Yet, the Eternal City is also a place that, more than any other in the world, seems to inspire a sense of absolute freedom in its inhabitants.
The Girl in the Wind by Gregory Ashe
Out Oct. 6, 2023, Hodgkin & Blount
Book two of the Iron on Iron series, Theo and Auggie return home—safe and sound and miraculously alive after being dragged into a murder investigation—all Theo wants is for life to get back to normal. No more murders. No more investigations. Nothing, in other words, that might put Auggie in danger. But when a girl from school goes missing, Theo finds himself reluctantly drawn into looking for her. Shaniyah was his former student, for one reason. And, for another, no one else seems interested in where she’s gone. Worse, her disappearance seems to be linked to a break-in at Theo and Auggie’s house. The search, though, quickly becomes more complicated than either Theo or Auggie could have expected. Shaniyah, they discover, had been conducting an investigation of her own, looking for another missing student. And the path to learning the truth about both disappearances, Theo fears, leads back to the Cottonmouth Club.
Cutlass Cadaver by Anne Hagan
Out Oct. 10, 2023, Jug Run Press
Book 13 in the Morelville series, called to investigate a body found in her brother-in-law’s long lost classic car, Mel digs in to ID the victim and find his killer. Then a family spring break trip turns deadly when Mel’s nephew is accused of murdering a young woman at a haunted house convention. Using her seasoned investigative skills, Mel uncovers scandalous secrets and puts herself at risk to protect her family and close both cases. But the job is taking an increasing toll, making Mel question how much longer she can continue as sheriff.
He Wasn’t There Again Today by Candas Jane Dorsey
Out Oct. 10, 2023, ECW Press
The nameless amateur sleuth of The Adventures of Isabel and What’s the Matter with Mary Jane? has often said that death is too good for Lockwood Chiles — who is in prison for killing her beloved partner, Nathan, and her close friend Pris — and makes no secret that she hates the man who massacred her shot at happiness. So, when Chiles ends up dead in his cell, it’s no wonder she becomes a prime suspect. Meanwhile, an aggressive band of men in military-adjacent garb turn a string of assaults against nameless’s unhoused neighbors into full-bore murder right behind the Epitome Apartments, and she rashly promises to help bring them to law.
The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen
Out Oct. 10, 2023, Forge Books
San Francisco, 1952. Detective Evander “Andy” Mills has started a new life for himself as a private detective—but his business hasn’t exactly taken off. It turns out that word spreads fast when you have a bad reputation, and no one in the queer community trusts him enough to ask an ex-cop for help. When James, an old flame from the war who had mysteriously disappeared, arrives in his offices above the Ruby, Andy wants to kick him out. But the job seems to be a simple case of blackmail, and Andy’s debts are piling up. He agrees to investigate, despite everything it stirs up.
The case will take him back to the shadowy, closeted world of the Navy, and then out into the gay bars of the city, where the past rises up to meet him, like the swell of the ocean under a warship. Missing people, violent strangers, and scandalous photos that could destroy lives are a whirlpool around him, and Andy better make sense of it all before someone pulls him under for good.
I Know About You by Erin Kaste
Out Oct. 10, 2023, Bold Strokes Books
Elementary school teacher Cary Smith thinks she has finally outrun her secrets. She’s avoided attention all her life, but the moment beautiful Tina Flores joins the faculty, Cary wants to be noticed. Although the school has a zero-tolerance policy toward anything “immoral,” Cary dares to pursue Tina, and they begin a relationship nobody can know about—not Cary’s friends, co-workers, or ex-girlfriend. But then strange things begin to happen, and before long, Cary isn’t sure who she can trust. When someone begins leaving ominous messages and finally breaks into her apartment, Cary fears losing her job or even her life. With her stalker inching closer to the truth, she’s forced to face the past she’s tried desperately to forget.
End of the Line by Jake Grenier
Out Oct. 24, 2023
A year after the events of Dead In The Water, Finn Lawson and Theo Moore are living separate lives in the bustling city of New York, nursing the wounds of their broken love. However, their worlds collide once more when they become targets of another cunning and relentless killer, who seems to be targeting them from all sides. It becomes apparent that the murderer’s motives are deeply intertwined with their shared history and the secrets they both hold. Realizing that their lives are once again in danger, Theo and Finn reluctantly team up to find the truth behind the killer’s vendetta.
Death Dropby Dragatha Mysterie aka Greg Herren
Out Oct. 31, 2023, Golden Notebook Press
Glam artist Jem Richard loved making New Orleans’ society mavens feel beautiful—but doesn’t like being stiffed. He reluctantly agrees to help with the make-up for the fall fashion show for the House of Mercereau, but demands payment up front after what happened the last time—when designer Marigny Mercereau’s check bounced. But no one warned him before he arrived, brushes and make-up palettes in hand, that the models he’ll be working on are drag queens! Pressed into service when one of the queens doesn’t show Jim wows the crowds and slays his fellow queens with his style and presentation on the runway. But between trips down the runway (and tequila shots for courage), Jim starts noticing bits and pieces of conversations and arguments showing all is not well behind the scenes of the House of Mercereau, and everyone seems to want Marigny dead. When her body is discovered the next morning, Jim finds himself in the sites of a killer! Jim puts on his best Shirley Holmes deerstalker cap and starts tracing the clues to help that handsome police detective—who may or may not be flirting with him—catch the killer before the killer catches Jem.
Also Out:
Ride Share by LA Witt and Cari Z, out Oct. 4, 2023
Slay Ride by Davidson King, out Oct. 4, 2023
Mafia Girl, Maybe by Kimberly A. Todd, out Oct. 5, 2023
Hallowed Eve by Morgan Kelley, out Oct. 6, 2023
An Exclusive Game by Persephone Black, out Oct. 6, 2023
Secrets Typed in Blood by Stephen Spotswood, out Oct. 10, 2023
Fall into Midnight by Arden Coutts, out Oct. 16, 2023
In Plain Sight by KC Wells, out Oct. 17, 2023
Defending Freedom by TS Ankney, out Oct. 23, 2023
Poison at Penshaw Hall by GB Ralph, out Oct. 25, 2023
Shot in the Dark by Anna Britton, out Oct. 26, 2023
The Echoes of Destiny by Ken Sanchez, out Oct. 27, 2023
In the Woods by SE Smith, out Oct. 28, 2023
Redemption in Copper Hollow by Katie Tripp, out Oct. 30, 2023
Carnal Carnival by MP Bates, out Oct. 31, 2023
Check out KRL’s review and giveaway of Board to Death By C.J. Connor, along with an interview with C.J., also in this issue–a queer cozy mystery that came out in August.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode goes up next week.
Click on this link to take you to Mysterious Galaxy’s website where you can purchase many of these books & a portion will go to help support KRL:
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
0 Comments